Stardew Valley Sandfish Guide: Best Fishing Spots and 1.6 Strategies

If you have spent any amount of time trying to complete the Community Center bundles, you know that the Sandfish is one of those elusive catches that feels a lot harder to track down than it actually is. I remember the first time I went hunting for one, I wasted half a day fishing in the wrong spot because the desert looks a lot bigger than the maps suggest. With the recent 1.6 update, catching and using the Sandfish has actually become a major part of a high-profit mid-game strategy, rather than just a one-off task for a bundle.

In this guide, I will walk you through exactly where I go to find them, the math behind why you might be seeing smaller fish than you expect, and how the new 1.6 equipment like the Fish Smoker changes the game for your farm’s economy.

How to Unlock the Calico Desert

Before you can even think about casting a line, you have to get to the desert. Since it is not part of the main Pelican Town map, you have to repair the bus first. I usually go the Community Center route, but here are the two ways you can get it done:

• The Vault Bundle: This is the classic way. You need to purchase four different bundles that total 42,500g. Once you finish the 25,000g bundle, the Junimos will fix the bus overnight.
• The Joja Route: If you have gone the Joja route, you just need to pay 40,000g through the Joja Community Development Form. It is a bit cheaper, but you lose that cozy Community Center feeling.

Once the bus is running, Pam will be at the bus stop starting at 10 AM. It costs 500g for a round-trip ticket, so I usually pack my bags for a full day of activity to make that fee worth it.

The Best Fishing Spots in the Desert

There are actually two different bodies of water in the desert, and I have seen a lot of players get confused about which one to use.

The Northwest Pond for Sandfish and Scorpion Carp

This is the big pond located just above the bus stop and to the left of the Desert Trader. This is the only place I go when I actually want to catch fish. The spawn rates here are pretty consistent:

• Sandfish: You have a very high chance of hooking these between 6 AM and 8 PM in any season.
• Scorpion Carp: These are much tougher and require Fishing Level 4 to even hook.
• Green Algae: The standard filler that you will see from time to time.

The Southern Pool for Secret Decor

There is a smaller pool of water right outside the Oasis shop. I don’t recommend fishing here for profit because the game treats this water like a fountain. This means the quality of any fish you catch will always be the lowest possible. However, I still visit this spot because it has a 10% chance to drop the Pyramid Decal, which is a unique decoration for your house.

Why You Cannot Catch a Max Size Sandfish

One thing that used to drive me crazy was that I could never seem to catch a maximum-sized Sandfish, no matter how high my skill was. It turns out there is a technical reason for this. In Stardew Valley, the size of a fish is determined by how far your bobber is from the shore, using a formula like this:

fishSize = Distance/5 times Skill + 2/10 times Random/100

In most big lakes, the distance from land can go up to 5. But the desert pond is so small that the maximum distance from land is only 2. Because of that, the Sandfish is mathematically capped at 23 inches, even though the game files say it can reach 25. To even hit that 23-inch mark, I have found that you need a Fishing level of at least 18, which requires some serious food buffs like Seafoam Pudding.

Mastering the 1.6 Targeted Bait Strategy

The 1.6 update introduced the Bait Maker, and it has completely changed my fishing routine. Once you hit Fishing Level 6, you can craft this machine using iron bars, coral, and a sea urchin.

I highly recommend taking a single Sandfish and popping it into the Bait Maker. It will give you 5 to 10 pieces of Targeted Sandfish Bait. This bait is incredible because it uses a new queue logic. The game looks at the first three potential fish it would give you, and if a Sandfish is in that group, you get it. This essentially guarantees that if you fish for a Sandfish, you will get it on almost every single cast, which is perfect quickly or prepping for a festival.

The Desert Festival Challenge

If you find yourself in the desert on Spring 15, 16, or 17, you will be right in the middle of the new Desert Festival. On Spring 15, Willy has a specific challenge where he asks you to catch 3 Sandfish during this festival.

• The Reward: 25 Calico Eggs.
• My Tip: Use that Targeted Bait I mentioned. It turns what could be an hour-long chore into a five-minute win, leaving you more time to explore the other festival stalls.

Maximizing Your Profits with the Fish Smoker

Before 1.6, Sandfish were mostly just for gifting or bundles. Now, they are a legitimate source of gold thanks to the Fish Smoker. This machine doubles the sell price of your fish while keeping its quality level. If you have the Angler and Artisan professions, the math gets really wild.

• Normal Sandfish: 75g base price.
• Iridium Sandfish with Angler: 225g.
• Smoked Iridium Sandfish with Angler and Artisan: 630g.

I have found that smoking my desert catches is way more profitable than putting them in a Fish Pond. While a pond gives you roe, a smoker turns a single fish into a high-value artisan good in only 50 minutes.

Who Loves the Sandfish?

When you aren’t turning them into gold, Sandfish make great gifts for a few specific neighbors.

• Penny: She absolutely loves Sandfish. It is one of her favorite gifts in the entire game, and since you can catch them year-round, it is my go-to way to build friendship with her.
• Neutral Residents: Demetrius, Elliott, Leo, Linus, Pam, Sebastian, and Willy are all fine with receiving one, but they won’t be nearly as excited as Penny.

I always keep a few Sandfish in my fridge for cooking recipes too. They work as the base for Maki Rolls and Sashimi, and if you are desperate for better crops, you can turn any Sandfish into Quality Fertilizer once you hit Farming Level 9.